IMPKOVBD STRAINS OF BOOTS 49 



well-known dealers in Denmark and abroad to be cultivated 

 under the same conditions. Of the Barres strains 8 came in 

 Class I. The yield of solids : 



were for Class 1 68*6 to 66 '5 cwts. per acre 



Class II 65-5 to 62'9 



Class III. . . . 62-3 to 56'1 



Four samples of Barres were bought abroad from the largest 

 and most renowned firms, one from Scotland, one from France, 

 and two from Germany. One yielded 64' 7, the others between 

 61*4 and 58'5 cwts. per acre. One was therefore in Class II. 

 and three in Class III. It will be seen that as early as 1900 the 

 Danish seed was superior to seed of the same variety from the 

 best firms abroad, of which seed large quantities were still in 

 the Danish market. It will also be noted that the yield of the 

 Danish samples varied considerably. Indeed, it was calculated, 

 having reference to the quantity of seed represented by the 

 samples, that if the seed of Class III. and of the lower half of 

 Class II. were replaced by seed of Class I. it would represent a 

 gain to farmers of nearly 10,000 annually. 



It will not be necessary here to enter into greater details 

 about these competitions from 1900 to 1910. It will be enough 

 to state that the annual reports, giving names and addresses of 

 growers from whom the best strains of seed could be bought, had 

 a considerable effect. The price of seed of good strains increased 

 to the benefit of the growers of these seeds, and the strains of 

 inferior quality were neglected and gradually disappeared from 

 the market. Imported seed could not maintain their position. 

 It was pointed out in the eighth Eeport, 1909, that 30 samples 

 of mangel seed and 17 samples of seed of swedes from the best 

 firms abroad had been tested, and were found to be equal to 

 Danish seed of Class III, only, yielding respectively 7*8 and 

 7'3 cwts. of solids per acre less than Danish seed of Class I. 

 No wonder, therefore, that simultaneously with the inferior 

 Danish strains the seed imported from France, Great Britain, 

 and Germany also gradually lost ground, to be eventually totally 

 replaced by Danish grown seed. The quality of root crops 

 improved during these years, more acres were grown with roots, 

 and the yield of food-stuff per acre increased to the distinct 

 benefit of farmers. At the end of the ten years this preliminary 



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